Rose Sala

Rose Gordon Sala is a mom to three but also a longtime editor and journalist. She's covered all the capital 'P' subjects, including pets, politics, PR, and parenting. She's written for MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, the New York Post, and Mom.com.

Latest posts by Rose

A Maker Studio Just for Kids Opens in Morris Museum

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 10/26/2021 - 10:19am

What will your kids create at the new Spark!Lab maker studio at the Morris Museum?

A brand-new maker space has opened right in Morristown –– and it’s just for kids. The Smithsonian-founded Spark!Lab debuted in a back corner of the Morris Museum in September, and it’s fabulous.

The Spark!Lab is filled with interesting and colorful raw materials with which kids can tinker, build, and experiment. It’s one of 10 in the country, modeled after the original that opened in 2008 in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Catskills With Kids: 35+ Family-Friendly Finds in Sullivan County

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 09/28/2021 - 5:38pm

Enjoy the Catskills for a weekend getaway. Photo by Orianna Riley

An escape to the Catskills is always a cozy retreat for my family. And while the Catskills towns closer to the Hudson River seem to attract all the splashy press (New Paltz! Woodstock!), there are quite a few hip little towns hiding out in the Sullivan County section of New York's Catskills, which leans up against the Delaware River.

Sullivan County towns like Narrowsburg, Callicoon, Cochecton, Roscoe, and Livingston Manor are filled with things for families to do on a quick weekend away, including adorable main streets and shops, great restaurants and breweries, family-friendly farms, rail trails for biking, and cozy boutique hotels with hiking trails and amazing taverns.

Legoland New York Brings Mega Theme Park Fun to the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 09/16/2021 - 4:00pm

Friends young and old enjoy the attractions and Legoland New York, the first major theme park in the Northeast in 40 years.

The much-awaited Legoland New York opening this summer delivered Orlando-sized theme park fun right outside of New York City. Its summer 2021 grand-opening felt like a special pandemic present for our kids who have been desperate to visit the Florida Legoland for years.

After our August visit to Legoland New York, we wanted to share our favorite highlights and top tips for navigating the park with young kids.

50 Things To Do in Portland, Maine, with Kids

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 11:12am

Walk the rocks at Fort Williams for views of Portland Head Light and the waves.

Among my favorite things to do in Portland, Maine, is to simply walk the cobblestone streets of the Old Port district, stopping into the boutiques for shopping and grabbing a coffee for a stroll along the waterfront. As a kid growing up in Maine, my family biked Back Cove, sledded down the Eastern Prom, and ice skated at Deering Oaks; as a teen, I went into "the city" for live music, the fantastic Portland restaurants, and the many art museums and festivals.

Portland, Maine, is a pretty port city less than 2 hours from Boston with a strong progressive bent, some might even call it a hippie streak. Now, as a tourist, I love returning with my own kids. It's home to a top-notch children's museum, crammed full of pretty parks and outdoor activities, culture, jaw-dropping coastal beauty, and truly great food. It's easy to day trip from Portland to the ski mountains in the winter, or to a stunning Maine beach in the summer.

The Funniest Lies Parents Tell Their Kids

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 11:02am

Tired of kids stealing from you plate? Tell them your food is spicy! Waaay too spicy!

We don't want to condone lying, but sometimes a parent has to rely on a little white lie to get through the day...or to just emerge unscathed from Target's toy aisle. A little white lie might also be put to use to coax a kid into a much-needed nap or away from the ice cream truck that always shows up 10 minutes before dinnertime.

We recently asked our readers about the funniest lies they had told their kids, and wow, some of these are next-level genius parenting hacks!

Camelback Resort: A Year-round Poconos Getaway for Families

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 3:11pm

The outdoor water park, Camelbeach, is surrounded by trees and mountains. Photo courtesy the resort

While an escape to Pennsylvania’s Poconos often means quiet hikes in the woods, a swim in the Delaware, or maybe a ski down the slope, my family also relishes a trip to one of the Poconos water park resorts. We recently indulged in a long weekend at Camelback Resort and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Read on to find out what’s new at this Poconos resort and to hear all our best tips for a visit to Camelback with the kids.

New Playground Opens in Cranford’s Nomahegan Park

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 06/08/2021 - 2:00pm

The towering new playground structure at Nomahegan Park packs tons of fun with its twisty slides, wobbly bridge, and tons of challenging climbing structures.

Families living near the pretty Nomahegan Park in Cranford, New Jersey, recently gained an exciting new playground. Living just a 15-minute drive away, my family couldn’t wait to check out the new addition to this popular Union County park.

The new playground area includes a separate toddler section, accessible swings and ramp, and a multi-tiered larger playground for ages 5 and up, which is loaded with climbing opportunities, twisty slides, a wobbly bridge, and plenty more to explore. The playground, which opened in late April, replaced a dated, much smaller playground.

Your Essential Beach List: Best Baby Beach Gear, Umbrellas, Wagons, and Tips for a Fun Beach Day

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 05/13/2021 - 11:34am

A pile of buckets goes a long way with young kids at the beach.

I vaguely remember going to the beach with a cute little beach bag that held just a towel, a bottle of sunscreen, a book, a water bottle, and maybe a snack. Going to the beach with my three kids, however, requires a mountain of beach chairs, towels, a heap of toys, two coolers, and a wagon to haul everything.

I’ve tried my share of beach gear over the years (I grew up in a beach town and now we live near the Jersey Shore), but to make sure I had left no stone unturned, I also polled our readers and everyone at Mommy Poppins for their picks on the very best things to bring to the beach with kids. Everything on this list will make your next day at the beach easier, less sandy, and a little more like, well, a day at the beach.